The mist thickened like breath on a blade.
Somewhere behind the trees, Gorrin was swearing, crashing through shrubs, swinging his maul at shadows. He was loud, Angry, Bleeding.
But Alex didn't rush.
He was already gone from the last location, using the terrain like a scalpel.
Each step he took left no trace. His cloak blended with the trees. His bloodline was humming now warm against the base of his spine, sensing the shift in the hunt. The system whispered:
[Executioner Instinct Engaged – Threat Level Analyzed]
Secondary Target Remaining: 1
Location: 34 meters northeast
Heart Rate: Elevated. Fear Detected.
Decision Tree Calculated: Pursue → Eliminate → Bait
He faced toward the second guard's path.
The one who'd been caught in the thorn trap had survived although barely. The man had managed to slice through the vine with a dagger, one arm bleeding badly, armor shredded. Now, he limped alone through the woods, mouth muttering prayers under his breath.
Alex emerged from the shadows with no sound.
He didn't rush him.
Instead, he followed. Watched.
Listened to the man's sobbing breaths, the fear in every footfall.
[Memory Theft Suggestion: Weak Mental Barrier Detected – Use Emotional Trigger to Destabilize]
Alex grinned.
He called out just loud enough to carry.
"Was it you?"
Silence.
"Did you hold her legs down while he took her?"
The man froze.
He spun around, blade drawn but saw nothing. Just trees, Mist and Shadows.
"Who the fuck—?!"
"Or were you the one who laughed while she begged?"
"Shut up! You— You don't know anything!"
Alex stepped into view, just at the edge of the mist, dagger low, eyes glowing amber-red.
"I know you were there."
The man screamed and charged.
Sloppy. Desperate.
Alex didn't move until the last second.
Then side stepped, slashed across the man's already-wounded arm, spun behind, and swept the legs out from under him. The man hit the ground hard.
Before he could stand up
Alex stomped on his broken arm hard.
Bone snapped. The scream tore the quiet apart.
He knelt beside him, whispering, "Tell me where Gorrin sleeps. His habits. His sins."
"F-fuck you!"
Alex activated Memory Theft this time, focusing harder.
The man's eyes glazed.
More images flooded Alex's mind.
- Gorrin choking a boy with his bare hands.
- A secret stash of mana crystals under the cookfire.
- A command scroll signed by a noble seal—House Maltren.
Alex's eyes widened.
he was shocked to find that a noble was backing the raiders.
He silenced the man with a clean cut across the throat.
[Enemy Terminated – Blood Memory Engaged]
[Vengeance Protocol: 72% Progress]
[Emotional Containment Level: Dropping]
[Morality Drift: +2%]
The system didn't flinch.
It wanted this.
--------
Then came the roar.
Not close. Not far.
Gorrin.
"YOU LITTLE SHIT!" His voice tore through the trees. "COME OUT! STOP HIDING! FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN!"
Alex didn't respond.
He took a moment. Steady breath. Readied his dagger.
Then he spoke calm and cold.
"You're not fighting a man."
Gorrin snarled. "Then what the fuck are you?!"
Alex stepped into view, thirty paces ahead.
He let his eyes blaze fully Chaos Dragon Eyes, burning red-black, crackling slightly at the corners.
"I'm the debt your filth never paid."
Gorrin charged.